The San Francisco 49ers' defense kept Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers' offense guessing as the unit recorded seven sacks and four takeaways, as the 49ers defeated the Packers 24-13 and advanced to the NFC Championship game for the second year in a row.
Middle linebacker Patrick Willis had 13 tackles, one interception, one sack and one fumble recovery in an outstanding performance from the All-Pro. Aldon Smith added two sacks and a forced a Rodgers' fumble.
The Packers started out the game with a scoring drive going 79-yards down the field to the 49ers' 1 yard line, but the drive stalled as San Francisco held them out of the end zone. Green Bay settled for a Mason Crosby field goal to make it 3-0, midway through the first quarter.
Rodgers finished 30 of 46 for 243 yards with one touchdown, three interceptions and a fumble. Jermichael Finley had a 1-yard touchdown for the Packers and Ryan Grant led them with only 43 rushing yards.
Second-year 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for a 236 yards and one touchdown in his first playoff start for the Niners. Michael Crabtree caught a 36 yard touchdown pass and had six receptions for 94 yards.
But Frank Gore stole the show, rushing for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Gore scored the first touchdown of the game on 8-yard run up the middle with only a minute remaining in the game.
On the next Packers' series, Rodgers was hit as he was throwing and the ball landed into the open arms of San Francisco strong safety Donte Whitner for the interception.
The Packers minimized the damage and held the 49ers to only a David Akers' field goal and went into the locker room down by seven points.
The second half of the game was more of the same as the 49ers' defense continued to put pressure on Rodgers and create turnovers and the offense continued to pound the ball downfield.
The 49ers were leading 24-6 with less than five minutes to go, before the Packers finally scored a touchdown. After the kickoff, San Francisco never relinquished control of the ball.
Do you think Madden NFL '13 got tonight's game right? In the regular season madden was 27-15 and for the Wildcard round of the playoffs 2-2.
Here is a list of Madden NFL 13's simulations for the year...
Week 1
Cowboys Vs. Giants
Week 2
Packers Vs. Bears
49ers Vs. Lions
Broncos Vs. Falcons
Week 3
Giants Vs. Panthers
Patriots Vs. Ravens
Packers Vs. Seahawks
Week 4
Browns Vs. Ravens
Giants Vs. Eagles
Bears Vs. Cowboys
Week 5
Cardinal Vs. Rams
Chargers Vs. Saints
Texans Vs. Jets
Week 6
Steelers Vs. Titans
Packers Vs. Texans
Broncos Vs. Chargers
Week 7
Seahawks Vs. 49ers
Steelers Vs. Bengals
Week 8
Buccaneers Vs. Vikings
49ers Vs. Cardinals
Week 9
Chiefs Vs. Chargers
Cowboys Vs. Falcons
Eagles Vs. Saints
Week 10
Colts Vs. Jaguars
Texans Vs Bears
Chiefs Vs Steelers
Week 11
Miami Vs. Buffalo
49ers Vs. Bears
Week 12
Redskins Vs. Cowboys
Patriots Vs. Jets
Packers Vs. Giants
Panthers Vs. Eagles
Week 13
Saints Vs. Falcons
Eagles Vs. Cowboys
Giants Vs. Redskins
Week 14
Broncos Vs. Raiders
Texans Vs. Patriots
Week 15
Bengals Vs. Eagles
49ers Vs. Patriots
Titans Vs. Jets
Week 16
N/A
Week 17
Cowboys Vs Redskins
Playoffs Wildcard Round
Bengals Vs. Texans
Vikings Vs. Packers
Colts Vs. Ravens
Seahawks Vs. Redskins
Playoofs Divisional Round
Ravens Vs. Broncos
Packers Vs. 49ers
